War (Rewritten)
Sing, O muse, of great Perséos and his wrath, which brought such woe on the men of Sparta and Athens alike. Sing of mighty warriors who fell on the naked shores, whose unburied name devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore. Sing of men answering honor's call, of mortal men defying gods and fate. Recall for us the age honor, where combat marked the man. Tell us of the age when armies stood firm and defied the will of deceitful gods. Remind us, lest we forget, of the long cruel years when Spartan and Athenian blood mingled in the dry earth in a war that tore the world asunder.
454 BC Lakonia, Sparta
Sparta, a land where the weak perish... Home to the fiercest warriors in history. Here violence is every man's daily bread and dead husband is every woman's dream. Here sons expect to be beaten for their own good sometimes to death.
Within the Spartan palace, King Archidamos of house Eurypontid, strong and lean, a king, a warrior, a father, rolls on the ground in simulated combat with his six-year-old son, Perséos. (Περσέως)
"Remember, my son. The more you sweat here the less you bleed in battle." The boy dives at his father, the King sides steps and trips the boy.
"Follow your instincts, act without hesitation." Again, the boy tackles and they tumble over each other into the sand.
"Hesitation creates fear." They wrestle on, continuing an old Spartan way of father and son. "My father taught me that fear is always a constant but accepting it!" Archidamos spins and grabs the boy's leg, pulling him to the ground. "Will make you stronger!" Archidamos looks across the room to see his queen Lampito with her beautiful athletic frame, watching the two of them.
As the young boy sat up his father sat next to him, "In the end, a Spartan's true strength is the warrior next to him. Give respect and honor to him and it will be returned to you." He said as he wiped the dirt from his hands and grabbed his sons head, "First." He kissed his forehead, "You fight with your head."
"Then you fight with your heart" Lampito said as she lifts Perséos up.
"What is it?" Archidamos asked.
"Aeolus has returned from Delphi; he is awaiting you with the ephors." She informed; the king nodded before turning to Perséos. "Do not forget today's lesson."
"Respect and honor."
"Respect and honor."
With that Perséos left the palace and went to find his best friend two were born on the same day and brought to the same elder for the examination. When the two Spartans grew to the age of walking and talking they became fast friends and played every day after their training.
"Kassandra, chaire."
"Perséos, chaire."
"I see that Nikolaos is done teaching you the art of falling."
"And King Archidamos is done feed you the broth."
The two laughed at each other before rushing off into the plains of Sparta, playing with the other children for hours upon hours until the sun god Helios drove his chariot across so that his sister Selene the moon goddess brought her moon chariot.
The children of house Agiad and Eurypontid sit on the roof of a Spartan home looking to the skies, Perséos had turned 7 a few days ago and soon a Spartan would take them to the agoge. The agoge is where Spartan boys are turned into men and soldiers into Spartan, where weakness is unacceptable. The boy will either become Spartans or die trying.
"Kassandra, one of these days I'll be escorted to the agoge camps southwest of here near the foothills of the mountains."
"When that day comes, I'll be there to cheer you on."
"I hope so."
"Kassandra, Perséos." The voice of a Spartan called out. The two peeked over the roof to see a Spartan looking up at them. He must be apart the (ἱππεῖς), The Hippeus, the king's guard, judging from his armor. A Bronze musculata with bronze pauldrons, aside from the normal musculata which had no pauldrons.
"Diomídis, I swear on Áres it wasn't me this time." Diomídis the son Aristódimos the Trembler, though the Trembler was just a name he was branded with because he was the only Spartan to return from Thermopylai, for one year he was publicly humiliated and shamed, it was then at the battle of Plataea that the Spartan redeem himself by falling in the battle.
"Whatever you did young prince, I'm not here because of that. I'm here because King Archidamos has summoned you, both of you to Mt. Taygetos."
The two looked at each other, what under Helios would Archidamos summon the both of them for, rephrase, what under Helios would Archidamos summon Kassandra for, it didn't matter for now, refusing the summons of one of the Kings was not an option.
Diomídis escorted the young boys to Mt. Taygetos, expecting to see just Archidamos there but instead they were met with the Elders, the Gerousía one of whom was holding a baby. And two Spartans were holding a woman back, the baby's mother, Myrrine. Daughter of Leonidas and Gorgo and sister to Pleistarkhos who was killed in battle.
"Perséos." Archidamos called out, waving in his arm in a motion that said, 'come over'. The young Spartan went over to his father who place his hands on his shoulders.
"What's going on pater?" He asked.
"The oracle has decreed our fate. Listen." Archidamos said.
The elder holding the cry baby spoke loudly to out due the thunder drumming around, "The oracle has spoken! To prevent Sparta's fall, the child must fall first."
"You can't let this happen!" Myrrne begged. "Please! He'll do no harm- he'll help us! He will lead us!"
The Elder shouted in a booming voice, "Silence!" He held the baby up higher and turned around and began walking to the edge while ignoring Myrrine's cries for mercy.
"Sto—You can't!" Her cries continued to fall on deaf ears as the elder did not stop until he was holding the baby over the edge.
Perséos noticed Kassandra fighting out of Diomídis grip. The 31-year-old Spartan was stronger but the determined strength of Kassandra prevailed as the girl broke from the hoplite's grip and rushed the Elder and unintentionally pushed him and the baby over the cliff.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" the elder screamed as he fell to his death.
"Murderer! She has killed him! An elder shouted.
"Toss her over!" Another added while the other elders muttered curses at the girl.
"Pay for her dishonor for the life she has snuffed!" Another elder angrily demanded a Spartan within his 30s mostly likely Kassandra and the now dead baby's father. "She's not Spartan, Nikolaos!"
"Look at me Nikolaos! Don't! Don't listen! Nikolaos!" Myrrine called out to her husband. "Don't listen!"
Nikolaos looked at the elder that had demanded he throw his daughter over the mountain and then to his daughter he reluctantly began walking towards the girl."
"No! Don't listen! Nikolaos! Why?!"
Kassandra looked to her father and hugged him making what he was about to do even harder and hurt even worse than it should. "Nikolaos! Stop! Nikolaos! No! Nikolaos!"
The young general kneeled, looking deeply into his daughter's eyes, fighting back the tears that had formed in his eyes and ignoring the cries of his wife as loud as the were, "Nikolaos! Look at me! Look at me, Nikolaos! Don't! Don't listen!"
Nikolaos grabbed Kassandra and held her over the cliff while an elder yelled simultaneously, "Your blood is tainted! Rid yourself of this poison! For Sparta!"
Now it was Perséos's turn to wrestle from his father's grip, he attempted to rush towards his friends aid but Archidamos held him back and unlike Diomídis, it wouldn't be easy to break free.
Perséos looked at his father with eyes that begged him to let go. "She's my friend!" He said pleadingly.
"She has broken Spartan law, she must pay for such dishonor"
"Pater?" Kassandra said confused.
Perséos again fought to get Archidamos's grip with all his strength and might but the Eurypontid king was stronger and more determined to not let his son join the many victims of Mt. Taygetos.
Kassandra began to grasp the what was about to happen, why was this happening, of all people for this to happen to why did it have to be her. "Pater!" Kassandra begged.
"No, my baby, Kassandra!" her mother cried out begging for her mercy.
Perséos stopped fighting and looked away from what happens next Nikolaos dropped Kassandra to her death and her mother cried out, "Kassandra!" Nikolaos dropped to his knees and said, "It is done."Perséos fought the tears in his eyes, his best friend was dead and he couldn't do anything to save her.
That was 7 years ago, and Perséos had long since been brought to the agoge (ἀγωγή). He along with 2 other boys sat around a campfire near a mountain pass northwest of their agoge camp. The other 2 boys with him were the same age as him, one had short hair and a braid like King Leonidas minus the beard, his name was Brasidas, the other boy had a shaved head like Perséos, his name was Tēlemakhos.
The 3 boys were sent into the mountains to survive alone, given only a red cloak, a chiton, a spear and shield. Life in the agoge was harsh and unforgiving, the lessons were brutal. The instructors? Ruthless. There was only one way to prove that they were fit to be a Spartan: Fight. And that's what Perséos did.
Another was the scarcity in food, no trainee was well fed. They had to grow accustomed to the pain of hunger and learned one the most important survival skills: Thievery.
It wasn't uncommon for a trainee to sneak out of the barracks and steal food for himself, if he was caught, he was punished. Not for the theft itself but the failure of its succession. Perséos has been victim to the whips as price for his failure to steal. It taught them the art of stealing from the enemy if low on supplies.
He developed a strategy that worked based on trial and error. Before stealing he made sure none of the older Spartans were looking or around if that were the case, he would make sure to stay low and be light with his steps but quick. Do not think this strategy was always successful, it had its ups and downs.
By the time he reached his early teens, weapons like wooden swords and tipless spears were added to the training. But still during these war games consequence can be deadly, other youths were killed in the course of these fights. The training became more exacting, reading and writing was taught no more than was necessary but music and dancing however was regarded as essential.
"I can't believe we have to do this, we deserve some rest!" Tēlemakhos complained, stabbing his spear into the ground and tossing his shield.
"Quite complaining, the training will only get harsher. We're lucky enough to have made it this far." Brasidas chastised. Him and Tēlemakhos didn't have a steady relationship, Tēlemakhos hated the agoge with every fiber of his being, the only reason he hasn't ran off was because of his grandfather, Polynikis who was a member of the 300, one of the best among them, nephew to Leonidas, flawless in looks and peerless in valor, and was an Olympic champion. Tēlemakhos longed to honor him, it was the only reason he stayed within the agoge. Brasidas on the other hand wasn't as well Spartan as other Spartans, he had a good heart and was one of the most distinguished of trainees.
Perséos stood up and took up his spear, "Stay here, I'm going to find some food."
"Stay on your guard and don't get caught." Brasidas teased.
Perséos chuckled and disappeared into the forest within 2 minutes. He wasn't trying to steal bread, meat, or cheese, one of the priorities of his search besides finding food was to also not get caught doing it. There was one instance of this when a 13 year old Spartan boy had snuck out and stole a baby fox from a village near his camp in hopes of eating it, when the trainer caught him and asked him what he was doing off campus. The boy had seen the trainer and had hidden the fox beneath his cloth. As the boy said nothing, the trainer insisted. The fox, still alive, beneath the boy's cloth, started scratching him, in order to escape. While doing that, the boy continued to deny the stealing until the wounds suffered by the fox killed him. Perséos held that story as an example to not get caught.
As Perséos came close to a deer he suddenly tripped over something, falling over face first and alerting his prey. "AH," He sighed in frustration. "Maláka!" he took a look at what he tripped over.
"A shield, wait this belongs to a Spartan. That is a bad omen." Perséos noticed a blood trail leading out of the forest and quickly followed it coming across a burnes patch, "someone must've dropped it a hurry." He thought before finding a body. Turning him over, he got a closer look at him. He had been stabbed in the stomach, he was Spartan alright and the same age as him but upon closer inspection of the boy's face, Perséos recognized him, "Kallínikos…" he said softly.
"Pater…" Kallínikos called in heavy fading breaths
"I'm not him, but I'm sure he's proud of you."
"I'm so cold."
"The sea that will carry you, is very warm."
"Could you tell my pater, that I'm sorry I yelled at him, I was angry, it wasn't his fault."
"Shh… You have nothing to be sorry about." and with that Kallínikos shut his eyes, his breathing and his heart ceased and he was gone.
"He died with honor." A voice from behind, Perséos swiftly turned around and pointed his Doru at the person behind him. Another boy, the same age as him, with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. He was equipped with a doru and aspis.
"Ikarios, what happened, where is Androklís?" Perséos asked.
" I don't know, we were scouting and we saw the bandits, sneaking around in the hills. We fought them but got separated."
"Head back to my camp, Brasidas and Tēlemakhos should be there."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to find out what happened to Androklís." Perséos replied, taking up his fallen friend's shield. Before he walked off Ikários grabbed his arm, Perséos looked into his eyes and saw a determined and worried look in them, a look that said, 'come back alive'. He nodded and went off into the hills, coming across a trail of blood. He followed it all the way up to a cave.
"The trail ends here." He said mentally, he held his shield up and projected his spear over it and began to slowly walk in, as he went deeper and deeper, it got darker and his steps became cautious, so he did not trip and alert whatever lurked here. With every step his breathing quickened and his heart rather than beat normally, it began to thump like a giant stomping around the earth. The sound of voices didn't help to relieve him and only served to alert him. He caught sight of some light mostly likely a fire and where there's fire in a cave, there's bandit's near. The voices of frustration and somewhat relief were a confirmation that these were bandits. Perséos swiftly hid behind a pillar and listened to their conversation.
"By all the gods, this had better be worth it. Sneaking around in Lakonia, homeland of the Spartans. This was insane." One bandit said in a scared tone and he should be, Had the run into one trained Spartan, this conversation wouldn't be happening.
"Calm down, we may not have gotten the valuables, but we got something better." Another bandit said turning to a young boy tied to a post. "A Spartan as a slave."
"He's not Spartan, he hasn't finished his training."
"The Athenians don't know that."
Immediately the other bandit's expression lit up as he smiled, "And once, Praxus and Dolibos come back with the other one we'll have two slaves to sell."
"The Athenians would pay a high sum to enslave a son of Sparta."
Perséos couldn't take any more of this talk of enslavement and easily burst from the pillar and swiftly leapt and thrust his spear into the first bandits and quickly drove the butt spike into the other killing them both. He drew the dragger of one of the bandits and went to free his comrade.
"Perséos, thank the gods. I was certain I would not see Sparta again." Androklís said.
"Ikários will want to know what happened to you."
Androklís looked down in sorrow. "Our age-mate, Kallínikos was killed by these dogs, when we saw them sneaking about in the night."
"And what happened to you?"
"I- Uh- I- Uhh..." Androklís stuttered trying to form the words but quickly said whatever came to mind. "I fell in combat, and they dragged me here."
Perséos knew from the moment he began to stutter that he was lying, the lost shield was also an indicator of cowardice. "You're lying." He said harshly. "I saw the battlefield. You ran as soon as you were separated from Ikários, and Kallínikos fell. A Spartan never drops his shield."
Androklís thought about telling another lie but he knew a prince of Sparta was not so easily deceived or manipulated, "Curse you. Yes! I don't want to be a soldier, I never wanted to! All I wanted was a small boat, a small life. To fish and live in peace."
Perséos almost choked as his eyes widened at those words. "A fisherman?! I came all this way for a coward?"
"So what? I didn't ask for this. It was forced upon me. A boy in Sparta has no other choice."
"Kallínikos died alone because of you, Ikários nearly died because of you. Your mother and father would be disgusted by you!"
"At least I'll be alive to pray for them and love them from afar. Thank you for my life, prince, but tell them I'm not coming back." With that said Androklís and Perséos left the cave but went their separate ways, Perséos heading back to his camp and Androklís heading into the mountains never to return.
Perséos returned to his camp where Brasidas and Tēlemakhos were tending to Ikários's wounds. The 3 Spartans youths saw him approaching with bags full of food to last them the rest of the night.
"Ikários told us what happened, are you alright? where is Androklís?" Brasidas asked.
Perséos hung his head down in disappointment. "I couldn't find him, if he's dead then the wolves will have claimed his body. The bandits are dead and will be left for the crows." He looked away in shame, he knew he was lying but Ikários wouldn't be able to handle that kind of betrayal, he might've wanted all of Sparta to search all of Greece.
"Chin up, Spartan." Brasidas said, "You did all you could Perséos, but no one can be spared of Hades. We are still here among the living and we will not fall, not here, not in agoge." Brasidas offered his had to Perséos, damn him for being the inspiring type, "You of all people are not meant to die here, you are a prince of Sparta, when the day comes for all of us to stand in a phalanx, I will gladly raise my shield in defense of all of you." Damn you Brasidas... you and your good heart. Perséos accepted, clasping his Spartan brother's forearm.
The young prince of house Eurypontid gave a quick nod and said, "You're right Brasidas. We're all still among the living and we will not die here."
9 years later
431 B.C.
King Archidamos stood at a veranda overlooking Sparta. The growing power in Athens was becoming an alarming threat, the Athenians had become embolden, they began bullying their allies, extorting money from them and waged small wars with neutral city-states forcing them to join the Delian League. The Spartans and other Peloponnesian states were so threatened by this new growth in Athenian power they broke all treaties with them accept for the peace but Kórinthos severed all treaties and have been pressuring all other Peloponnesian cities to take up arms against the Athenians. Speaking of Kórinthos, a messenger from the city should arrive at any minute.
The king of house Eurypontid was snapped from his thoughts by the feeling of a presence behind him. Reaching across his left side, he gripped his kopis (The Spartan swords from 300) and turned to face the presence.
A silhouette of a young man with Corinthian helm at his side. "Father..." The silhouette called out before stepping into the light, revealing a young man in his 20s with long shoulder length black hair with a round the head braid much like Leonidas's braid. He wore bronze curiass, vambraces to protect his forearm and greave to protect his legs.
"Perséos!" The king exclaimed
"It's good to see you again." Perséos approached his father, "Well, how do I look? Every inch the Spartan soldier?"
"You look fine, my son." They embraced in a loving hug as Archidamos chuckled out proudly, "Welcome home. Welcome home." The pair of father and son walked from the veranda and down into the throne room of the kings. "Do you know where you are to be posted?"
Perséos chuckled out, "Zarax Point."
"Ah, Zarax Point. That's a quiet fort. Your mother will be pleased."
"I didn't endure the agoge to bask in the sun, father. I wanna fight. Like you did. For Sparta."
"All in good time my son, all in good time. Remember, not all your enemies will be found on the battlefield."
"Father?" The two turned to the sound of footsteps and found a middle aged woman with dark brown hair approaching them. Perséos looked at the woman and realized it was his mother, Lampito. "Perséos." she called out. Embracing her son in a long overdue loving hug, she hadn't seen him since he was sent off to the agoge, but she never forgot his fiery amber eyes.
She pulled away from him say,"Let me look at you." She was in awe of his form, his musculata curiass was fresh and well polished, state issued but he wouldn't be wearing that armor for long, Archidamos had already prepared a special armor worthy of a prince of Sparta. "So handsome."
"Mother please" Perséos blushed. Lampito placed a hand upon his cheek which he quickly pulled away from.
"Your brother Agisílaos is eager to see you."
"He will see him soon enough, my love. For now, I wish to speak with our son alone."
"Fine. I shall go and find your brother." With that Lampito left the two discuss matter of the utmost importance.
Perséos joyous expression turned serious as he turned to his father and asked, "Is there something troubling you, father?"
Archidamos stroked his aging beard. "Something of the most importance..." A long pause as Archidamos placed a hand upon his son's shoulder. "The Corinthians speak of war with the Delian League. No doubt you have heard of rumors of the growing power in Athens."
"I have but never thought anything of them, our warriors are the greatest in all of Greece."
"Of that there is no doubt, but still their growing power is a threat. We may have defeated them in the first Attikan war, but one war does not end all wars... I need your thoughts, a Corinthian messenger by the name of Aetós should be arriving by nightfall. I need to know, should we go to war?"
"Why are you asking me in matters of war… Shouldn't you convene with Pausanias on this matter?"
"Pausanias may be a king, but I need the advice of someone close to me, I need the advice of my son." Archidamos said placing a hand on Perséos's shoulder.
Perséos looked at the ceiling of the throne room, true he was one of the most distinguished Spartans in the agoge and a brilliant one at best. Spartan princes and Spartans of noble birth are taught military tactics in the agoge and Pausanias being a king for 14 years would be the logical choice for advice before making a decision.
Later that night
"You ask too much!" and elderly voice boomed.
Perséos looked at his father who sat on his throne flanked by two Spartans, one to his left and another two his right. Pausanias also sat next to him observing the proceedings. "By the gods, let this end." Perséos groaned mentally.
"We cannot allow Corinthian outrage to lead us to war, if we choose to throw away our peace with the Athenians, we are exposed to threats from across the Aegean and our people will suffer. If the Corinthians want war they should seek it alone." Perséos turned his gaze to an old man, a member of the Gerousía (γερουσία) A council of 30 elders or 28 if you're not including the two kings. The Gerousía was created by the famous Spartan lawgiver Lykoúrgos (Lycurgus).Playing two major roles, the Gerousía debate motions which were to be put before the citizen assembly, with the power to prevent any motion from being passed on, and functioned as a Supreme Court, with the right to try any Spartan, up to and including the kings. The Great Rhetra suggests that it had the power to overturn decisions made by the Spartan assembly.
The Corinthian messenger stepped up, dressed in a musculata curiass and wearing a plumeless chalcidian helmet. "You would see all of Greece under the heel of Athenai, cowering from them like chided slaves. We spilled blood at Potidaea but now we need allies, the might of Sparta will halt their ambition."
"Your flattery is wasted, you know not what you ask."
"All eyes look on Sparta and this what you would have them see? From birth a Spartan is trained for one purpose… To do battle!"
"You are Pandora clutching at a vessel you do not understand!"
"They dare think themselves your equal, none can match your skill, it is every Spartan's duty to embody the very nature or war!"
From his throne Archidamos slowly lifted his head and gripped his doru spear. "Strike now, I beg you!"
"You would plunge Greece into chaos!" And at that point Archidamos tapped the ground loudly with the butt-spike of his spear effectively gaining everyone's attention as he stood from his throne and spoke with a thundering voice, "Then from chaos… we will RISE!"
The eldest member of the Gerousía looked to the Eurypontid King incredulously and stuttering to find the right words, Perséos could feel the surprise for in the room but the Corinthian messenger was pleased with the decision. "I will be in Megaris with my men, we will be awaiting your aid." and with that the Corinthian left
"My, kings, have you not heard the words of the Gerousía. Our peace with the Athenians assures us no threats of attack from the sea by Persia, if we throw away this peace we will suffer."
"Have you no faith in Sparta's warriors. Let the Persian, Athenians or Egyptians attack us from the sea, they will be met with the walls of Sparta in response." Pausanias said proudly earning a nod from Archidamos.
"The growing power in Athens is a threat to all of the Peloponnese. We are a land of conquerors, and the conquerors will not be the conquered. How long before the Athenians send their ship and invade the from the south. It's time the Athenians learn their place in the Greek world…"
"I strongly advise against this action my kings, this is madness!"
Perséos now turned to his father with an expectant look on his face. The old King felt his gaze and it felt like the gods themselves were watching, Zeus, Ares, Athena, Poseidon every god on Mt, Ólympos (Όλυμπος) It felt as if the answer he would decide the fate of Greece.
"Madness?... THIS. IS. SPARTA!"
Later on
Archidamos and Perséos walked the halls of the temple of Athena. Tomorrow Perséos was going off to war, chances of survival in war were not in the favor of any Spartan, not even a prince. "You'll be leaving for Megaris tomorrow, under the command of general Nikolaos and his son Stentor. You will be given command over a battalion of 80 men." The pair stop at a veranda overlooking a small village close to the temple, next to a pillar was a cloth covering something.
"I'm giving this to you as your grandfather once gave it to me." Archidamos undid a second belt and handed the sheathed sword that was strapped to it. The guard of the was a "U" shape and the leaf shaped blade was a masterpiece that even Hephaestus would be jealous of unless he forged it himself.
"King Helios's sword?" Perséos said taking the sheathed blade and unsheathing it to admire it.
"My father carried this sword and his father before him all the way back to king Lelex, the history of the Heraclid dynasty was written with this sword, carry it with you tomorrow."
Perséos sheathed the blade and turned to his father, "I will honor you father, and our bloodline."
"I know you will, when your in the agoge, I had the blacksmith prepare this for you." Archidamos grabbed the cloth and removed it, revealing what it was hiding under it. An armor rack securing beautifully forged musculata curiass made of iron as well as his vambraces and greaves. The helmet was of a Corinthian design, the plume was black and red stripes,
(The curiass is the armor Perseus wore in Clash of the Titan 2010, and his helmet, well look at the cover image)
"Sons always inherit their armor from their fathers but you have earned your own armor, your shield is being prepared by the blacksmith. For now retire to your old room, tomorrow you leave for war, my son."
The young prince stepped out onto the veranda of his old room, the room which he played in and slept in when he was little , he cast his gaze to the south, there would be the Village of Gytheion, where Spartan triremes are built. Stripping himself of his state issued armor, he climbed under the covers of his own bed before laying back and closing his eyes.
(Yep I'm back and I've changed a few things. I put this story on hold on and went into deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, de-
THEY GOT IT!
Right, I was in deep thought, about my demigod's name, I honestly couldn't read or say Alkides or Alcides without mixing it with Achilles so, I tried many different names Aeneas, Eteocles, Polydorus, Sarpedon, None of them really stuck so I went with Perséos.
And that's any different?
How many people pronounce it Perséos over Perseus
Good point.
And as for me changing the misthios, I like Kassandra more, no not for any bullshit reasons, I might write a version with Alexios as the misthios. But despite the changes I hope you enjoyed the chapter but for now Wolf Howl AUUUUUUUU!)